Netflix director speaks out about Los Gatos development plan

The controversy over the Albright Way development and the June ballot measure it spawned has moved into a new realm, with Netflix making a rare public comment on the project and the upcoming election.

Netflix facilities director Amy Dee addressed the issues at the Feb. 18 town council meeting. The council is considering putting a competing measure on the June 3 ballot that would ask voters to OK the council-approved Albright development, as opposed to the developer-backed Albright Way Specific Plan.

Netflix has agreed to occupy two of the four Albright Way buildings, or about half of the development.

A sign is posted in front of the Netflix headquarters on January 22, 2014 in Los Gatos, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

"Netflix has spent a significant amount of money and my team has spent countless hours on plans for the buildings since you approved the Albright project," Dee said. "We need to move into those buildings as soon as possible. So it concerns me when there's any uncertainty around us being able to occupy the buildings next year as planned."

Dee added, "We have no objections" to the council-approved development plan, but she was opposed to placing a competing measure on the ballot because it could cause further delays. She briefly touched on the lawsuits filed by Los Gatos Citizens for Responsible Development. Initiative supporters say they brought the ballot measure forward to stop the lawsuits.

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"From my understanding the initiative will stop the lawsuits. The lawsuits can continue and continue and continue," Dee said. "We have a date when we need to move in."

One of the leaders of Los Gatos Citizens for Responsible Development, John Shepardson, said he's willing to pull the lawsuits now. "We are prepared to drop the lawsuits if the developer agrees to abide by the town-approved plan," Shepardson said. "So there you have it--it's out there--we're waiting for an acceptance."

But the initiative's attorney said Shepardson's offer comes too late. "We have no ability to pull the initiative," Sean Welch said. "It must go on the ballot."

Welch also argued against a competing, council-backed initiative going on the June 3 ballot.

And town attorney Robert Schultz opined that it would be difficult to get a ballot measure together in the time allotted--saying the "drop dead" date is March 7.

Pirzynski and Councilwoman Diane McNutt do not support placing a council initiative on the ballot. But Mayor Steve Leonardis, Vice Mayor Marcia Jensen and Spector voted in favor of appointing an ad hoc council subcommittee to delve further into the possibility. Leonardis declined to appoint anyone to the committee, saying he'd make appointments later.